President Trump this week threatened additional tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting sharp criticism from outdoor and sporting goods brands that might not be directly impacted but generally view trade wars as “so last generation,” according to Jeff Turner of Kokatat. (Read More)
SGB Executive analyzes the month’s top sports, outdoor & lifestyle brand M&A deals, including JD Sports' acquisition of Finish Line. (Read More)
Apparel, footwear and outdoors products weren’t caught directly in the crosshairs of the escalating trade war with China on Wednesday, allowing those industries to take a “deep sigh of relief,” said Matt Priest, president and CEO of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. (Read More)
Whenever a sport’s governing body announces new equipment standards – whether they’re merely suggestions or mandated because of safety concerns – it can have a major impact on the production process and sales cycle for that gear. It can even alter participation trends in that sport for years to come. (Read More)
Although Sportsman Warehouse Holdings Inc.’s fourth quarter’s net income was “impacted by an elevated promotional backdrop and a tax-reform-driven investment in our associates,” the company is poised to gain market share in firearms as its competitors scale back in that category, CEO Jon Barker told analysts Wednesday. (Read More)
The Lululemon Athletica Inc. executives who handled the company’s first earnings call following last month’s resignation of CEO Laurent Potdevin didn’t focus on the leadership flux but instead on the chief drivers – e-commerce and site traffic conversion – that helped fuel a stellar fourth quarter. (Read More)
Activity level trends saw a continued shift from core participation to casual participation across many sports last year, according SFIA’s 2017 Sports, Fitness and Leisure Activities Topline Report. On the surface, that is concerning, but there is a silver lining. (Read More)
The firearms industry suffered another blow Sunday when, as expected, Remington Outdoor Co. filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. (Read More)
Two Billabong shareholders are opposed to the $200 million, or $1 per share, acquisition offer from Boardriders, which has jeopardized the potential blockbuster deal and sparked sharp words from Boardriders CEO David Tanner. (Read More)
It’s not China that will be punished for stealing American intellectual property but instead U.S. companies and consumers that will feel the effects of President Trump’s move to impose $50 billion in retaliatory tariffs on Chinese imports. That was the message Thursday from numerous trade associations that represent industries whose products might be affected by Thursday's decision to move forward with the new tariffs. (Read More)
Bolstered by double-digit revenue growth in both the fourth quarter and fiscal year, Duluth Holdings Inc., parent of Duluth Trading Co., is doubling down on its omnichannel strategy of building its brick-and-mortar presence while also beefing up e-commerce capabilities. (Read More)
SGB Executive talked to FDRA President Matt Priest about the impact the Trump Administration’s proposed higher tariffs will have on companies and consumers. (Read More)